The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-08-06
MENTALITY

ABNORMAL MENJAlItr
Geniuses the Result of an Unusual Me-
ciianicai Structure Of tho Brain.
There is little doubt that we regard
many persons as insane who have an
abnormal development Of mental pow
ers. owing to the unusual mechanical
structure and arrangement OF certain
parts of the brain; in other words. the
mind Is not evenly developed and does
not work tremendously in all its parts.
A well-balanced brain would make a
good average manly no means q re-
markable one. Persons with unevenly-
developed brains may be classed from
geniuses to idiots, leaving a long
space between for the great variety OF
cranks, constitutional fools and knaves,
of which the world has been full since
records of mans folly have been tabu-
lated. Were it not for the mental de.
formity of the human race,
there would be as little variety mani
fest in mans social relations
as there is between herds Of cattle and
swine, or flocks of sheep or geese. Il
we examine the brain (and all that
pertains to its functions) in the lower
animals, there is a great sameness Of
weight. form and structure. each after
its kind; all blackbirds' brains are
alike; the rabbits do not differ from
n another to any great degree; in
foxes and dogs a little more variation
may be observed.
When comparative anatomy shows
that in any one kind of the lower ami
mails there are individual differences Of
structure of the brain, then we notice
also hat peculiarities of action make
cll-observcd distinctions. or produce
character. There is but little charac-
ter manifest in individual robins,
geese rabbits or sheep, but in dogs and
horses, the most common observer de.
tects the various grades of smartness
or stupidity. There probably has been
a time in the worlds history when
men were so exactly alike in
structure that they thought alike
and acted alike; it was when men
lived in tribes and were moved by a
chief or leader. that leader being, per.
haps, the only one with any individu-
atty. Many Of the qualities Of the
human mind which becomes distin.
gushing features Of the individual
arise from purely accidental causes.
A fall OF blow upon the head in child
hood may frequently derange the &C
ton Of a part Of the brain in such a
way as to mark the adult life Of the
individual with unwonted brilliancy or
unlooked-for stupidity. A boy, with
no tendency from parentage to mental
ability. or to be different from his
rather stupid brothers and sisters. by
an accident loses the use of his legs
and becomes a cripple for life. The
lack Of general muscular development
turns the current of blood to feed his
brain, and he develops into a scholar
and writer Of renown, y mechanical
genius or a poet A stupid boy, who
could lever learn the multiplication
table, was kicked by a horse. and after
some weeks Of Inconsistencies re-
covered his health, and remarkable
Mathematical ability was Immediately
developed, making him superior to all
in that same class where so long he
held the position most inferior.
Many instances in our insane hos
pital show where men-and women,
too-who where kind. considerable, up.
right and pure in their habits and Ian
gauge have, from slight injury Of the
brain become quarrelsome, dangerous,
dishonest and impure in speech and
action. The experimental physiology
ist frequently produces epilepsy in
lower animals to illustrate certain
functions Of the brain. The animals
become cpileptic, and the same is
transmitted to their progeny. Great.
ing an epileptic race. And thus an
accident which may sharpen the wits
Of a Ounce may likewise darken the
brilliancy Of a born genius. Like the
epilepsy produced by experiment, the
accidentally induced stupidity will DO
handed down through the descendants.
Thus nature provides for that variety
and scope Of mental power which
distinguishes maj from all other |
animals. There are u~nthinkiur
persons who are always worrying
about the geniuses, cranks, or the weak
minded people who occupy SO much of
the worlds attention. But we must
remember that few Of them could be
otherwise, and all Of them serve q good
purpose in life. All the various types
OF religious enthusiasm which tho
world has known have had q general
tendency to good, but none Of their
leaders could have escaped the re-
straints Of a hospital for the insane IL